Alice Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 5867) Relicensing Joint - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Alice Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 5867) Relicensing Joint Agency Meeting

January 24, 2019

Introduction/Meeting Purpose

Agenda

• Introductions/Meeting Purpose
• Review of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Traditional Licensing Process and Schedule

• Review of Project Facilities and Operations
• Review of Existing Resources and Information provided in the

Pre-Application Document (PAD)

• Proposed Resource Studies
• Comments and Questions
• Site Visit Logistics

January 24, 2019 Page 2

Introduction/Meeting Purpose

Meeting Purpose

• Initial consultation meeting for the relicensing of the Alice Falls

Hydroelectric Project (P-5867)

• Review Alice Falls Project FERC relicensing process and schedule
• Provide agencies and stakeholders information pertaining to existing

Project facilities and resources

• Identify any additional relevant existing information pertaining to the

Project area resources

• Review process for submittal of comments, additional information, and

study requests for the development of the FERC license application

January 24, 2019 Page 3

Alice Falls Project FERC Relicensing Process

Alice Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 5867)

• Alice Falls Project is located on the Ausable River in the Hamlet of

Keeseville, Clinton and Essex Counties, New York

• Licensee is Alice Falls Hydro LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle

Creek Renewable Energy, LLC

• Original 40-year FERC license issued on October 5, 1983 which expires
• n October 1, 2023
• Eagle Creek acquired the Project in July 2016

January 24, 2019 Page 4

Alice Falls Project FERC Relicensing Process

FERC Relicensing Activities to Date

• Alice Falls Hydro submitted Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-application

Document (PAD) to FERC, agencies and stakeholders on September 28, 2018; Supplement on October 16, 2018

• Alice Falls Project Relicensing is following the FERC Traditional Licensing

Process (TLP) − Concurrent with the NOI/PAD filing, Alice Falls Hydro requested use

• f the TLP

− TLP Supported by NYSDEC and USFWS − TLP granted by FERC on November 27, 2018

• Notice of this Joint Meeting and Site Visit submitted to FERC and

stakeholders on January 4, 2019

• Public Notice of Joint Meeting and Site Visit provided in the Clinton and

Essex County Newspapers - BG/NC Sun and The Valley News Sun - on January 5, 2019

January 24, 2019 Page 5

Alice Falls Project FERC Licensing Process

January 24, 2019 Page 6

Traditional Licensing Process – Pre-Filing

Applicant Files Notice of Intent and Pre- Application Document Requests use of TLP FERC Issues Public Notice Comments on NOI, PAD and TLP Request due in 30 Days FERC Approves Use of TLP within 30 Days Public Consultation Joint Meeting within 60 days Comments and Study Request Due within 60 Days of Joint Meeting Applicant Conducts Studies and Prepares and Files Draft License Application Comments on Draft License Application due within 90 days of Draft License Application Filing Final License Application due no more than 2 years before current license expiration

Stage 1

Stage 2 Stage 3

Alice Falls Project FERC Relicensing Process

January 24, 2019 Page 7 9/28/2018 and 10/16/2018 Notice of Intent Preliminary Application Document 01/24/2019 Joint Meeting 03/27/2019 PAD Comments Ongoing Consultation Existing Information from Agencies and Other Sources Studies 2019 and 2020 (if needed) Field Season 5/1/2021 Draft License Application (DLA) 7/30/2021 Comments Due on DLA 9/30/2021 Final License Application Filed File Preliminary Information Consult Stakeholders Gather Information Prepare and Submit Application

Traditional Licensing Process – Pre-Filing

Alice Falls Project FERC Licensing Process

January 24, 2019 Page 8

Traditional Licensing Process – Post Filing

FERC Issues Notice of Application Filing Additional Information/Study Requests Comments and Interventions Due 60 Days after Application Notice FERC Issues NEPA Scoping Document (SD1) Public Meeting within 30 days of SD1 Issuance Comments on SD1 Due 30 Days after Meeting FERC issues SD2 if needed FERC Issues Additional Information Request if Needed FERC Issues Notice Application is Ready for Environmental Analysis within 90 days Comments on REA, Apply for Water Quality Certification and Final Agency Conditions within 60 days FERC Issues Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement Comments on Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement FERC Issues Final License Order

Questions?

January 24, 2019 Page 9

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 10

General Project Location

• Alice Falls Project is within

the approximately 512 square mile Ausable River Watershed

• Alice Falls Project is

located on the Ausable River approximately 6 river miles upstream of the confluence with Lake Champlain

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 11

Hydroelectric Projects

• n Ausable River
• The Rainbow Falls

Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2835) is located 0.5 miles downstream of Alice Falls Dam and just upstream of the Ausable Chasm

• Both Projects are
• perated as Run-of-River

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 12

Project Boundary

• Encompasses the Project

impoundment, Project lands (including the substation and recreation areas) and immediately downstream of the Project tailrace

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 13 Substation Powerhouse Dam Alice Falls Spillway Fish Bypass

Alice Falls Project General Location of Project Facilities

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 14

• The Alice Falls impoundment is approximately 1,250-feet-long and

encompasses approximately 4.8 acres

• There is negligible net storage capacity
• The shorelines are moderately to steeply sloped and predominantly forested
• The western shoreline is bordered by New York State Route 9

Alice Falls Project Impoundment

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 15

Powerhouse Dam Fish Bypass Spillway/Falls

Alice Falls Project Facilities

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 16

• Alice Falls dam is a rehabilitated, stone masonry dam originally built in

1892-1893

• The dam is approximately 135-feet long by 80- feet-high and is situated

atop a ledge outcrop adjacent to the natural Alice Falls

Alice Falls Project Dam

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 17

• The Project has a 10-foot-wide by 150-foot-long concrete intake
• The intake has a 41-foot-wide by 14-foot-high opening with bar

trashracks with 1-inch clear spacing

• The intake connects to a divided 45-foot-long reinforced concrete

penstock that conveys water to the powerhouse − Penstock 1 is 18-feet-wide by 12-feet-high − Penstock 2 is 10-feet-wide by 12-feet-high

Alice Falls Project Intake and Penstock

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 18

• The powerhouse measures 35-feet-wide by 56-feet-long by 32-feet-high
• The powerhouse contains 2 generator units:

− Turbine Unit No. 1 is a semi-Kaplan Model V5 rated at 1.5 MW − Turbine Unit No. 2 is a S. Morgan Smith Kaplan rated at 0.60 MW

Alice Falls Project Powerhouse

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019

Fish Bypass

Page 19

• The fish bypass system consists of a 17-foot-long by 5-foot-wide chute that

discharges fish beyond a rock ledge and into a plunge pool

• The system allows for landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, and

brook trout to safely pass over the Alice Falls dam

Alice Falls Project Downstream Fish Passage

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 20 Upstream to Impoundment Downstream to Falls

• A 110-foot-long natural rock ledge spillway that supports 2.5-foot-high

wooden flashboards is located adjacent to the Dam

Alice Falls Project Spillway

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 21

• Alice Falls is located at end of the spillway and is approximately

35-feet-high

• The flows over the falls and from the tailrace converge almost immediately

at the discharge of the powerhouse

Alice Falls

Alice Falls Project Overview

• A 5 kV underground conduit runs from the powerhouse to a substation.
• A 1,500-foot-long, 46 kV buried transmission line then extends north and ties into

NYSENG’s interconnection on Old State Road

January 24, 2019 Page 22

Alice Falls Project Grid Connection

Alice Falls Project Overview

Project Recreation Access

• Project Recreation access

areas include: − Impoundment Fishing Access Area − Tailrace Fishing Access Area − Two Parking Areas − Overlook Area with Picnic Areas and Shelter

• Alice Falls Hydro provides and

maintains recreation areas from May 20 – September 8 on weekdays from 8 am – 3 pm

January 24, 2019 Page 23

Alice Falls Project Overview

January 24, 2019 Page 24

Overlook Area Picnic Area Path to Impoundment Fishing Area Path to Tailrace Fishing Area

Project Recreation Access

Alice Falls Project Overview

Existing Project Operations

• Run-of-river plant where inflow to the powerhouse is generally equal to
• utflow
• Provides continuous minimum flow of 25 cfs, or inflow, whichever is less,
• ver the Alice Falls year-round
• Provides an additional 125 cfs, or inflow, whichever is less, over the Alice

Falls daily Monday – Friday, 8am - 3pm from May 20th – September 8th

• Provides continuous flow of 20 cfs, or inflow, whichever is less, for the

seasonal fish bypass facility from April 1 – November 30

January 24, 2019 Page 25

Questions?

January 24, 2019 Page 26

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Geology and Soils

• Alice Falls Project is in the Potsdam

Sandstone of the Beekmantown Group which is composed mainly

• f quartz with pebble or cobble

conglomerate at its base

• The soils near the Alice Falls

Project are loamy sands and sandy loams that are well drained to excessively drained

• Downstream of the Project, below

the Rainbow Falls Project, the Ausable River traverses through the Ausable Chasm

January 24, 2019 Page 27

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Water Resources - Water Quantity

• River flow data for the Alice Falls Project was generated from U.S. Geological

Survey (USGS) gage No. 04275500 (Ausable River near Ausable Forks) for the period 1990 to 2018

• The drainage area at the gage is 446 square miles; data from the gage were pro-

rated by a factor of 1.05 to account for the additional drainage area at the Alice Falls Project

January 24, 2019 Page 28

MONTH MEAN FLOW (CFS) MEDIAN FLOW (CFS) MINIMUM FLOW (CFS) MAXIMUM FLOW (CFS) January 716 461 169 16,742 February 508 355 191 8,562 March 946 551 156 14,157 April 2,380 1,680 242 20,337 May 1,604 1,236 252 10,719 June 1,008 665 140 10,742 July 537 373 122 5,247 August 438 280 112 20,562 September 392 249 96 7,742 October 779 476 137 13,708 November 873 599 236 24,719 December 757 547 180 8,876 Annual 918 520 96 24,719

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Water Resources – Water Quality

• The Ausable River in the Project area is classified as a Class C water
• pH - shall not be less than 6.5 nor more than 8.5
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - for non-trout waters, the minimum daily

average shall not be less than 5.0 mg/L, and at no time shall the concentration be less than 4.0 mg/L

• Dissolved Solids -shall be kept as low as practicable to maintain the

best usage of waters but in no case shall it exceed 500 mg/L

• Ausable River Association (ASRA) currently monitors temperature,

dissolved oxygen (DO), specific conductance, and pH at 25 stream locations throughout the Ausable watershed on a bi-weekly basis

• Two water monitoring stations are located just upstream and

downstream of Alice Falls Dam:

• Clintonville Station = 8.5 miles upstream
• Carpenters Flatts Station = 4 miles downstream
• Recorded water quality data resides within acceptable limits imposed for

Class C waters

January 24, 2019 Page 29

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Fish and Aquatic Resources

• The Ausable River has a reputation for excellent brown trout, brook trout,

rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon fishing

• Warm and cool water fish occur in the Ausable River (e.g., smallmouth bass,

yellow perch) and other non-game resident species are likely to occur in the Alice Falls impoundment

• No federally listed species are known to exist in the Project area
• A NYSE&G survey conducted in 1999 identified 34 fish species, upstream and

downstream of the Rainbow Falls Project - see PAD Table 5-8

• Angling for trout on the Ausable River is open from April 1 – October 15 with a

daily limit of 5 fish of any size, except in specific areas of the West Branch

• Angling for landlocked Atlantic salmon occurs below the Alice Falls Project,

specifically below the mouth of Ausable Chasm and is open year-round

January 24, 2019 Page 30

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Fish and Aquatic Resources

• The Project’s fish bypass system directs a 20 cfs spill (generally from April

1 – November 30) clear of a rock ledge and into an approximately 10- feet-deep plunge pool located about 36-feet below the chute

• The Licensee, per FERC Order Approving and Modifying a Fish Bypass

Mortality Study Plan (May 28, 1993), conducted a Fish Bypass Mortality Study in 1994 to evaluate fish passage through the bypass system

• The study was conducted in consultation with the New York State

Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

• The study estimated fish passage mortality through the bypass facility at

1.2% and concluded that the bypass facility successfully passes out- migrating fish with without undue risk of injury or death

January 24, 2019 Page 31

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Wildlife and Botanical Resources

• The PAD provides descriptions of Wildlife and Botanical Resources
• The PAD, Appendix F, provides lists of mammals, birds, amphibians and

reptiles that may occur in the Project vicinity based on species distribution and habitat preferences

• Potential RTE species within the vicinity of the Project include:

− The federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist), and the federally threatened species northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) − The State of New York listed bald eagle (state threatened), golden eagle (state endangered), and golden-winged warbler (species of special concern) − No federally- listed botanical species, however, several state-listed plant species are identified as potentially occurring - see Table 5-14 in the PAD

January 24, 2019 Page 32

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Wetlands, Riparian and Littoral Resources

January 24, 2019 Page 33

• USFWS National

Wetlands Inventory (NWI) database

• About 6.5 acres of

permanently flooded freshwater wetland within the Project boundary

• Riverine (R3UBHh)

and Lacustrine (L1UBHh)

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Recreation and Land Use Resources

• Recreation Facilities – include overlook and picnic areas, fishing access

areas

• The previous Licensee modified the seasons and timing of public access

to the Project to accommodate recreation visitors (predominantly anglers) at the site

• Currently public access is from May 20-September 8 from Monday-Friday

from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with on-site staff for safety purposes

• 1996 FERC Form 80 recorded 46 daytime annual total recreation days and

12 daytime peak weekend recreation days, and the tailwater fishing facilities were estimated to be utilized at 25 percent capacity

• The Commission granted the Licensee an exemption from Form 80 on July

22, 1998

January 24, 2019 Page 34

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Recreation and Land Use Resources

• Portions of the Ausable River are designated by New York State as

recreation and scenic river

• Alice Falls is within designated recreation river, but not within

designated scenic river segment

• Alice Falls is located within the Adirondack Park
• Adjacent land use is identified as Hamlet and Low Intensity

January 24, 2019 Page 35

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Aesthetic Resources

• Article 36 of the 1983 license required consultation and studies for

aesthetic flow releases at Alice Falls

• 1992 FERC Order prescribes an aesthetic flow during daylight hours from

11:00 am to 8:00 pm during recreation season (defined as the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through to the Tuesday following Columbus Day weekend)

January 24, 2019 Page 36

• Since 2005, the Project is open to

the public seasonally from May 20 to September 8 on weekdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

• Accordingly, the aesthetic flow

release was adjusted to accommodate the period when public access is provided at the Project site.

Alice Falls Project - Existing Environment

Cultural Resources

• A Stage 1A Literature Review and Stage 1B Archaeological Survey of the Alice

Falls Project area was conducted in 1984, prior to re-development of the Project site

• Within Stage 1B, six shovel test pits were excavated within the Project area,

and did not provide any evidence of prehistoric occupation or any historic artifacts

• The Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) of New York lists the Alice

Falls Project as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places

• On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused extensive damage to the

Project facilities and major repairs were made

Tribal Resources

• There are no American Indian lands, known traditional cultural properties
• r religious properties, or National Register-eligible or -listed sites within

the Project boundary

• The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has expressed interest in participating in the

Project relicensing

January 24, 2019 Page 37

Alice Falls Project – Proposed Measures

Proposed Operations

• Alice Falls Hydro proposes to continue existing Project operations
• Continue run-of-river operations
• Continue providing continuous minimum flow of 25 cfs, or inflow,

whichever is less, over Alice Falls

• Continue providing 125 cfs, or inflow, whichever is less, over Alice Falls
• n weekdays from May 20 – September 8 from 8:00am – 3:00pm
• Continue downstream fish passage with continuous flows of 20 cfs, or

inflow, through the fish bypass facility from April 1 – November 30

Proposed Studies

• Alice Falls Hydro is proposing to conduct a recreation study of visitors at

the Project site to provide additional information regarding recreation visitation use and preferences at the Alice Falls Project

January 24, 2019 Page 38

Alice Falls Project Next Steps

January 24, 2019 Page 39 Activity Timeframe Date Stage 1 - Initial Consultation Notice of Intent (NOI); Pre-Application Document (PAD); Request to Use TLP Submittal 5 Years Prior to License Expiration 9/28/2018 FERC Approval of TLP 60 Days After NOI, PAD, TLP Request 11/27/2018 Joint Agency Consultation Meeting 30-60 Days After TLP Approval 1/24/2019 End of PAD Comment/Study Request Period 60 Days After Consultation Meeting 3/27/2019 Stage 2 - Studies and Draft Application Resource Studies

• Study Plan Development
• Agency Consultation
• Study Implementation
• Study Reports

During 2019 and 2020 seasons and final reports incorporated into Draft License Application 2019 & 2020 Field Seasons Draft License Application (DLA) Submittal Approximately 150 Days Before Final License Application 5/1/2021 End of DLA Comment Period 90 Days After DLA Submittal 7/30/2021 Stage 3 - Final Application Final License Application (FLA) Submittal 2 Years Prior to License Expiration 9/30/2021 License Expiration 9/30/2023

Alice Falls Project TLP Pre-filing Schedule

Alice Falls Project - Next Steps

Comments and Study Requests

• Submit PAD comments, additional relevant information and study requests to

Alice Falls Hydro within 60 Days – by March 27, 2019

• Submit comments and information to Alice Falls Hydro (see relicensing contacts)

Other Additional Existing Information

• Information pertaining to Project area resources?
• Additional relevant regional management plans?
• Any additional known information and existing studies?
• Status of NYSDEC water quality monitoring for Ausable River near Project?

Resource Studies

• To be conducted during 2019 and 2020 (if needed) field season
• Study Plan Development – Spring 2019
• Agency Consultation – Spring 2019
• Study Implementation and Reports – Summer - Winter 2019

January 24, 2019 Page 40

Alice Falls Project Study Requests

Study Requests Information

• Describe goals and objectives of the proposed study
• Explain relevant resource management goals or relevant public interest

considerations

• Describe existing information and the need for additional information
• Explain the nexus between project operations and effects on resource to

be studied and how the study results would inform the development of license requirements

• Explain how methodology and how it is consistent with generally

accepted scientific practice

• Include requested preferred data collection and analysis techniques and

schedule

• Describe level of effort and cost

January 24, 2019 Page 41

Alice Falls Project Relicensing Contacts

Michael Scarzello Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC 116 N. State Street, PO Box 167 Neshkoro, WI 54960-0167 Telephone: 973-998-8400 Email: michael.scarzello@eaglecreekre.com Karen Klosowski Kleinschmidt Associates PO Box 650 141 Main Street Pittsfield, ME 04967 Telephone: 315-409-7198 Email: karen.klosowski@kleinschmidtgroup.com

January 24, 2019 Page 42

Questions?

January 24, 2019 Page 43

Site Visit Logistics

• Location/Time
• Address (2502 US 9, Keeseville, NY 12944)
• Immediately following this Meeting
• Safety
• Parking
• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

January 24, 2019 Page 44